Communication Errors
Feeling emotional? Don’t hit send!
It’s 11pm and your phone beeps. Against your better judgment you pick it up and see it’s a client email. Soon you’re sucked into a missive about the latest calamity in your client’s life, the client’s anxiety about the case, and what you will do about everything. You sense your own anger and frustration rise… Read More »
Categories: Communication Errors, Wellness and BalanceAccess to Justice: Limited Scope Representation
Increasingly, legal services are moving away from the full-service model. Outsourcing document review, e-discovery, and other discrete legal services are becoming more common-place. Small practitioners and larger firms alike can offer limited scope representation, or “unbundled” representation, which let clients pick and choose when they want to engage with a lawyer during the life of… Read More »
Categories: Communication ErrorsDropping the ball on a file transfer: Rule 48 dangers
When a file is transferred from one lawyer to another, one danger is when nothing happens on the file due to a clumsy transfer or missing critical information. A new file that has not been looked at can be a ticking time bomb. Deadlines like limitation periods can pass by unnoticed, and Rule 48 administrative… Read More »
Categories: Risk Management Strategies, Civil Litigation, Law Practice Management, Risk Management & Claims Prevention, Biggest Claims Risks, Communication ErrorsDemystifying condominiums with better communication
The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place. ~ George Bernard Shaw Many people start their home ownership journey by purchasing a condominium unit. Others downsize to a condominium later in life. As first-time condominium buyers, they may be unfamiliar with the operation and documentation of a condominium corporation…. Read More »
Categories: Communication Errors, Real EstateHow to really communicate with clients and avoid malpractice claims
It seems so simple and yet a primary reason for a client to proceed with a malpractice claim against his or her lawyer is the failure of that lawyer to communicate effectively. To successfully step into the lawyer-client relationship in a malpractice – or any – claim, one needs to understand certain underlying concepts about… Read More »
Categories: Communication ErrorsHow lawyers can help their clients become better communicators – and vice versa
Some solicitors may think that the responsibility for maintaining appropriate solicitor/client communications lies solely with them. It is true that solicitors who fail to adequately communicate with their clients risk losing those clients – or even facing a malpractice claim. But it is also true that clients have reciprocal obligations to disclose relevant facts, to… Read More »
Categories: Communication ErrorsManage client expectations to be safe on limited scope retainers
Helping clients reduce the costs of resolving family disputes has become a practical issue for many family lawyers. As a result, many family lawyers are offering to do work on a limited scope retainer or “unbundled” basis. This means doing part, but not all, of the work on a legal matter. This could include one… Read More »
Categories: Communication Errors, Family LawOpen a file for pro bono matters too
Pro bono work is something nearly every lawyer does occasionally. Here’s one practical tip for avoiding some pro bono pitfalls: open a file for every matter you handle. By “open a file”, we mean treat the work like you would any other work. Run a conflicts check; diarize deadlines; document the client’s instructions, your advice… Read More »
Categories: Communication Errors